Travels by train …… Manchester Piccadilly … Manchester Victoria

It was exactly a week ago that the "train took the strain”, or to be more accurate I met our Saul on one railway station and took the train from another to meet up with our Ben in Walkden.

And that pretty much is that. 

Only to say Manchester Piccadilly is a station I often use, while Manchester Victoria is usually just for the trams.

But on the Wednesday, we took the train to Walkden from Manchester Victoria and used a platform I last stood on over half a century ago.

Back then it was one of the platforms to catch trains to Newcastle.

Location; Manchester railway stations

Pictures; Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria, 2026, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

Down on Manchester Road with our poshest cinema

Now you know you were being treated when the cinema was the Savoy, or as it later became known the Gaumont on Manchester Road.

The Picture House, 1920, later the Savoy and Gaumont

I had always thought this was the case, after it was larger and more impressive looking that its two rivals which were the Pavilion on Wilbraham Road and the Palais De Luxe on Barlow Moor Road.

And by 1928 it’s only challenger in Chorlton was the Palais which was smaller and older.

All I wanted was confirmation of the Gaumont’s premier position, and it came today from the Kinematograph Yearbook for 1928.

The Savoy, 1928

I now have four in the collection, starting with the one for 1914, and running through to 1928, 1929 and 1947.

There will be more, but for now I have just the four, and it is the 1928 book which dishes up the evidence that it felt confident in charging 8d to 1s. 6d, for admission while the Palais came in at 6d to 1s. 3d.

The Palais De Luxe, 1928

So, on the nights you might want to impress someone special, that “specialness” was reflected in what you were prepared to pay.

Of course, the choice of film might still have something to do with it, but I reckon that that all important first date or anniversary would tip the balance in favour of the Savoy.

The Palais De Lux, 1925

Later in the 1930s, came the last of our cinemas, up by the park, and it outlasted the Savoy by a few decades.

All of which makes it an exciting idea that there are those who want to buy up the former cinema and transform it into a community hub.

Now that would be fun.

Location; Chorlton,

Pictures; the Picture House, 1920, later renamed the Savoy and later still the Gaumont, from the Lloyd Collection, listing details from the 1928, Kinematograph Yearbook, and the Palais De Luxe cinema, circa 1928, Charles Ireland, GD10-07-04-6-13-01 Courtesy of East Dunbartonshire Archives

Ballast Quay and a word of advice

Now just 40 years ago I wandered down Ballast Quay, on the off chance I would bump into someone I knew from the days I worked at Glenvilles, or one of my old drinking companions from the Cutty Sark.

Of course I never did and the failure made me a bit sad.

More so, because we had some good times sitting outside the pub on that low brick wall watching as the night drew on, interrupted only by the sound of the barges banging together from the swell left by a passing pleasure cruiser.

But a swift pint and I felt less sad.

Today I barely recognise the place.

True, the Harbour Master's House and a row of houses are still there along with the Cutty Sark but the big industrial warehouse on the corner of Pelton Road has gone as has the yard almost opposite the pub.

Perhaps a lesson in it being wise never to go back. 

And to get your facts right. I always thought that the Harbour Master's House was the Customs House until Garry Luttman put me straight leaving me quite rightly to correct the mistake.

So thanks Garry.

Location; Greenwich

Picture; Ballast Quay, 1979 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

"I had forgotten how black the town hall was" .......... pictures from Linda

The thing about old picture postcards is that there is usually a story which goes with them.

Albert Square, circa 1960s

Often that story is the message on the back, or the recipient which if you are lucky will lead to more stories.

Most of the ones in the collection have been picked up over the years with no extra information about the person who chose it in preference to another, or anything about them.

So it is a rare treat to be handed two picture postcards, by someone I know and who offered up a bit of back story.

These two are instantly recognizable, and will bring back plenty of memories, with some looking closely at the detail to compare with the same scene today.

Usually I would throw in my own observations, but where would the fun be in that?  Far better that I leave that to you.

Piccadilly Gardens, circa 1960s

Instead I shall close with Linda’s own comments on the postcards.

“As I couldn’t make my monthly trip to Holmfirth yesterday I sorted out some paperwork and came across these two postcards.

The one of Albert square is a Bamforth card with a deckle edge.

Their building near the bus station was sadly derelict for years but has recently been converted into flats and looks so much better.

I had forgotten how black the town hall was. Used to park in the square twice a year when I took my children into town to buy their shoes”.

Location; Manchester

Pictures, Albert Square, and Piccadilly Gardens, circa 1960s/1970s, from the collection of Linda Rigby

Remembering Ida Bradshaw .... today at St Clements Church at 11 am

 There will be many in our community who were saddened at the news that Ida Bradshaw has died.

Ida in 2019

She always styled herself the "unofficial archivist of St Clements Church" and she was my friend. 

Her passion for Chorlton's history was infectious and l welcomed her regular phone calls about some "new find" that she had uncovered from her trawl of the church archives.

More that that l often benefited from one of her discoveries which in turn found themselves into a blog story.

And Ida was many other things.

I still have her folders of art and craft work recording not only her own output but pictures of exhibitions and group activities.

All of which kept her busy and sometimes it was difficult to pin her down to meet up as she mixed church business, trips to Central Ref, and visits to parishioners along with Saturday mornings at some craft event.

Catherine Brownhill remembers, Catherine Brownhill "A truly wonderful lady Andrew. I was introduced to Ida through Chorlton Civic Society. 

Her enthusiasm for her interests was infectious. Her love of perfume bottles and the presentation talk she gave about them will stay with me for a long time".

Ida in 2002

And I know many others will also have fond memories of Ida.

So I couldn't finish without expanding on her interests in embroidery and her work for Chorlton Arts Festival.

In 2002 The South Manchester Reporter commentated on her contribution to that year's events with, "As part of the Chorlton Arts Festival, St Clements Church on Edge Lane threw open its doors for an exhibition and demonstration of local arts and crafts. 

Visitors through out the week were able to come and enjoy watching things being made as well as admiring the creations on display.

Among the people demonstrating their skills was embroidery expert Ida Bradshaw."

And along with our conversations on all things Chorlton history this picture of Ida the embroidery expert is a nice way to remember her.

Her funeral will be at St Clements Church on Wednesday February 4th at 11 am.

Picture; Ida Bradshaw, 2019, from the collection of Peter Topping, and Ida in 2002, courtesy of South Manchester Reporter, May 30th, 2002

Cleaning the Town Hall …….. 1967

Now for anyone who doesn’t remember the Town Hall when it still had nearly a century of Manchester soot and grime, here is the picture.

It was taken in 1967, just three years after the City Council had estimated the cleanup would cost £25,000.

And what I like about the image is the contrast between the dark stone, and the two sections which have been cleaned.

As dramatic as the clock tower looks, I rather think it is the section on Lloyd Street which offers up just what the cleaning had achieved., highlighting the detail in the stonework and lifting the section to the eye.

Why they began with Lloyd Street will be on record somewhere, but I suspect it was the trial, which if it went wrong was down a side street.

Nor is that all that the picture has to offer.

Albert Square was still an island surrounded by traffic, with provision for parking opposite the Town Hall, and the underground Victorian lavatories, with their period features and sturdy iron railings.

And for the particularly observant, there almost in the centre of the square, is the statue of Oliver Heywood, who had already been washed in advance of his neighbour, William Gladstone.

Not sure why he got preferential treatment, but someone will know, and a lot more people will pile in with speculation.

And they will no doubt have theories about just what happened to the lavatories.

Were they stripped of their features, just back filled, or just covered over?

Location; Albert Square

Picture; Town Hall clean up, Albert Square, 1967, Courtesy of Manchester Archives+ Town Hall Photographers' Collection, https://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterarchiveplus/albums/72157684413651581?fbclid=IwAR35NR9v6lzJfkiSsHgHdQyL2CCuQUHuCuVr8xnd403q534MNgY5g1nAZfY

On the Trafalgar Road in 1968 …….. Austen’s ….. that record shop and a slew of ancient memories

This is Trafalgar Road in the spring of 1968.

It was taken by John King, and I am grateful that he has given me permission to use it, because it has set the memories going.

Two years earlier I knew this stretch well because I worked at Austen’s camping shop, which was a job at which  I didn’t crown myself with glory.

But then I was only 16, had big issues with adding up, dispensing the correct change and could never remember which tent was best for a back packing couple.

Even now the smell of canvas, and assorted plastic macs brings back the shop and the summer of 1966 on Trafalgar Road.

The shop has gone, and I think judging by the geography of this bit of the road, it is now an Iceland, but then the building that was the cinema no longer shows films and the old record shop just on from the church offers up all things plumbing instead of all things vinyl.

Not that I suspected any of these haunts of my youth would still exist.

It is after all 60 years since I spent my dinner hours in that record shop, but I still remember the collection of early Bob Dylan LPs I bought there, which are still in the collection.

And when I bring them out flashes of the Woolwich and Trafalgar Roads jump back.

All of which will bore some readers, provoke others to bring out their own memories, and yet more to take a wander down the two roads to do their own "then and now" comparisons.

I cant remember when the hospital was opened, but vaguely think it was being built in that summer I sold camping knives, and in turn bought the record Bob Dylan.

Incidentally that LP had been issued four years earlier, cost me £2.99 and retails now on some sites for £50.

So, all in all nostalgia was a lot cheaper then than now.

Leaving me just to add John’s comment to his picture, “People complain about traffic, but just remember if you are stuck in traffic you are part of the problem.

Ah the golden days of the 60s when traffic jams had not been invented. Think again, Woolwich Road, Greenwich seen in 1968. 

Something had happened in the Blackwall Tunnel, although the second tunnel opened a year earlier the approach road had not been completed.

The vehicles of a couple of old SE London firms can be seen. RACS and soft drinks firm Macintosh.

May 1968”.

To which I will add that L.P. Hartley quote  “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there,” from his 1953 novel “The Go-Between.”

And as John’s picture shows we did transport, and lorries very differently.

As we did cinemas, and here is the postscript, just a few hours after the original story was published.  Both John and I spent a bit of the morning pondering on that cinema.

I thought it was an ABC but john correctly identified it from an old map as the Granada, which led me to that wonderful site for cinema history which is cinema Treasures, and the entry for the Granada Greenwich at 234 Trafalgar Road.

"It was was opened by film star Gracie Fields on 30th September 1937 with Sabu in 'Elephant Boy' and Brian Donlevy in “Midnight Taxi”. Designed by noted American theatre architect C. Howard Crane, with interior decoration by Theodore Komisarjevsky. 

It had 1,924 seats in stalls and balcony and a rather plain auditorium, quite unlike the style of the opulent Woolwich / Tooting / Clapham Junction Granada Theatre’s. 

It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 3Manual/8Ranks organ which was opened by organist Donald Thorne. The Granada Theatre also had a fully equipped stage".

That said according to the 1947 Kinematic Yearbook it had by that year increased its number of seats to 2,772 seats.

But if you want more you will have to go to the site and find out for yourself, because I make it a policy of not lifting other people's research.

The added bonus is a picture of the cinema, pretty much as I remember it.

Location; Greenwich

Picture; Trafalgar Road, 1968, from the collection of John King

*cinema Treasures http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/3781